- The Electoral Commission appointed Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd October 2025 as the dates for nomination of candidates for Parliamentary Elections 2026.
- The nominations are being conducted at the respective district/city headquarters across the country, beginning at 9am and ending at 5pm on each of the appointed dates.
- The candidates are contesting for a total of 519 elective positions including 353 directly-elected MPs, 146 district and city woman representatives, and 20 seats for special interest groups (Older Persons, Persons with Disabilities, Workers, and Youths)
- An aspirant for Member of Parliament shall be a citizen of Uganda and a registered voter.
- The nomination of a candidate shall be made by two registered voters appearing in person, who shall tender the following documents to the Returning Officer:
🔴 Live Updates
Elias Luyimbazi Nalukoola has been nominated to contest for the Kawempe North parliamentary seat. He entered Parliament less than six months ago on an NUP ticket following the death of Muhammad Ssegirinya. Although his victory was challenged by NRM’s Faridah Nambi and the High Court ordered fresh elections, the appeal appears time-barred, meaning Nalukoola is likely to enter the January 15 polls as the incumbent MP.
Minister of State in the Office of the Vice President, Diana Nankunda Mutasingwa, has been duly nominated to contest for re-election as Buikwe District Woman MP. She pledged to continue her fight against land grabbing in the district and to advance development initiatives if given another term.
Former Attorney General Fred Ruhindi has returned to active politics after a decade, officially nominated to contest the Nakawa East parliamentary seat. Ruhindi, who previously represented the undivided Nakawa Constituency, pledged clean, transparent, and corruption-free politics if elected. He will face competition from NUP’s Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro and Winifred Nakandi, with the race expected to draw strong public interest given Nakawa’s politically active history.
Presidential candidate and Common Man’s Party (CMP) flagbearer Mubarak Munyagwa has suspended his campaign activities in Makindye to support the party’s Secretary General, Moses Bigirwa, ahead of his nomination for Kamuli Municipality MP. Munyagwa described Bigirwa as a strategic and committed leader with strong grassroots connections, saying his gesture demonstrates unity and reinforces the party’s presence in Eastern Uganda. Bigirwa welcomed the support, pledging to serve Kamuli residents with transparency and accountability if elected.
Gilbert Olanya has been duly nominated at the Amuru District Electoral Commission offices to contest for the Kilak South parliamentary seat on the Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) ticket. Olanya, who has served as MP for Kilak South since 2016, seeks re-election and pledged to continue advocating for the development and welfare of his constituents.
Incumbent Kamuli Municipality MP Baroda Batongola has been officially nominated to contest for re-election in the 2026 general elections. Speaking after her nomination, Batongola thanked the people of Kamuli Municipality for their support and pledged to continue championing development projects, including better roads, healthcare, and education. She also urged voters to support President Museveni, highlighting his leadership and development agenda. Her nomination was met with enthusiasm from residents and supporters as campaigns get underway.
The contest for Makindye West intensifies as incumbent Allan Ssewanyana and National Unity Platform flagbearer Zahara Luyirika were officially nominated to vie for the parliamentary seat ahead of the 2026 elections. Luyirika, former KCCA Speaker, pledged people-centered leadership focusing on women, youth, and entrepreneurs, while Ssewanyana emphasized community empowerment, accountability, and social justice, saying his bid responds to popular demand from constituents. Both candidates will face NRM’s Doreen Keita Kagabi in the upcoming polls.
Uganda Boxing Federation president Moses Muhangi has officially declared his candidacy for the Kampala Central parliamentary seat in the 2026 elections. Muhangi, a former national boxing champion and sports administrator, filed his nomination today at the Electoral Commission offices in Ntinda as an independent candidate. For long trading barbs with Fufa boss Moses Magogo, it appears like the two Moses have the same appetite as Magogo already is the Budiope East MP. Unfortunately or fortunately - depending on which tree you are patched on - there is only one Speaker and she is already married to Magogo, leaving Muhangi's Mosaic interest high and dry - at least for now!
Vice President Jessica Alupo has been officially nominated to contest as the Katakwi District Woman MP on the NRM ticket ahead of the 2026 elections. She thanked the Electoral Commission for a transparent and efficient process and called on all candidates and supporters to maintain peace during campaigns. Alupo reaffirmed her commitment to women and youth empowerment, education for children, and highlighted government projects in Teso, including ferries, a public university, and investments in health, education, and security. She also announced that President Museveni will visit Napak on October 30 and Katakwi on November 1.
Four candidates have been nominated to challenge incumbent Michael Kakembo Mbwatekamwa for the Entebbe Municipality parliamentary seat. They are Steven Shaka of NRM, Scholastica Najjemba Baguma and Yusuf Kanakulya, both independents, and Irene Nantumbwe of EPU.
The Kampala District Electoral Commission has officially begun parliamentary nominations, with Returning Officer Hasashya Rashida delivering opening remarks. Key instructions for aspirants include:
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Original payment receipts must be presented for verification.
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Only four people are allowed per nomination: the candidate, proposer, and two supporters.
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Aspirants who booked specific times will be served at those times; those who didn’t will be slotted accordingly.
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Rallies are not allowed during the nomination process, as campaigning officially begins on 10th November 2025.
EC officials are now verifying documents and managing orderly submissions across Kampala constituencies.
Alex Waiswa Mufumbiro, deputy spokesperson of the National Unity Platform (NUP), has been officially nominated to contest the Nakawa East parliamentary seat. The nomination was conducted in absentia at Nakawa, with incumbent MP Ronald Balimwezo representing him, as Mufumbiro is currently on remand at Luzira Prison. Earlier today, Mufumbiro appeared at Nakawa Magistrates Court, charged with incitement—allegedly urging NUP supporters on September 4, 2025, to target security personnel. He pleaded not guilty and was remanded until November 6, 2025, pending police investigations. Mufumbiro faces separate charges related to military-style training and is scheduled to appear later today at Kawempe Magistrates Court alongside nine other suspects.
Martin Ojara Mapenduzi has been nominated for Member of Parliament representing Gulu West (Bardege-Layibi Division) on the NRM ticket. Supporters gathered at the EC offices welcomed him with cheers as the verification of his documents was completed.
Norbert Mao, the Democratic Party (DP) President General, is a seasoned politician and lawyer with a long career in public life. He first entered national politics in 1996 when he was elected Member of Parliament for Gulu Municipality, a seat he held for two terms until 2006. During his tenure in Parliament, Mao was widely respected for his eloquence, principled debate, and advocacy for peace in northern Uganda during the height of the Lord’s Resistance Army insurgency. After Parliament, he served as Chairperson of Gulu District Local Government, where he championed post-war reconstruction and reconciliation efforts. Mao first ran for president in 2011 under the Democratic Party banner and again in 2021, positioning himself as a voice of reform and dialogue in Uganda’s polarized political landscape. In 2022, he entered his DP into memorandum of understanding with President Museveni, leading his appointment to Cabinet as Justice minister. Mao flirted with the idea of a third shot at the presidency in 2026 but eventually opted to run for MP seat instead in what political analysts have seen as a direct move not to jeopardise Mr Museveni's support in northern Uganda by taking away votes from the same person he is serving in Cabinet.
The Electoral Commission has confirmed Thursday, January 15, 2026 as polling day for both Presidential and Parliamentary Elections. Special Interest Group elections will follow between January 13 and February 9, 2026.
After nominations close, Returning Officers will meet candidates from October 24–27 to harmonize campaign schedules. Official campaigns will run from November 10, 2025 to January 13, 2026.
The Commission has established a Nomination Query Desk at its headquarters to handle verification and legal inquiries. Toll-free lines 0800 300121 and 0800 300122 are open daily from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM for public use.
Aspirants are allowed a maximum of two vehicles in their nomination convoy, each bearing official police stickers and carrying no more than ten people, including the driver.
The Commission has cautioned aspirants against depositing nomination fees into district or city accounts. All payments must be made through URA’s online system and authorized banks, using procedures detailed on the Commission's official website
According to EC Chairperson Justice Simon Byabakama, 519 parliamentary positions are being contested, including 353 directly elected MPs, 146 district woman representatives, and 20 representatives from Special Interest Groups.